Ignition device



May 19, 1931.l

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@nur A. CIRAAOLO IGNITION DEVICE Fi1ed July 23, 1927' 1 .1 IJ f 1.1

Patented May 19, 1931 UNITED areas ANTONIQ lCIRJMHCU, OF OAVKLAND, CALFORNA.

, reni-rien DEVICE i Application filed July 23, 1927. Serial No. 208,030.

My invention relates to a new type of match and to means for vignitingrthe same. Y This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 142,269, liled October 18, 1926, directed to orchard heaters.

It is the object of my invention to provide a generally improved ignition device. It is Yan object of my invention to provide a match and igniter therefor especially adapted for easy and automatic ignition.

Other and ancillary objects of my invention will be suggested in the following description and in the use of the device of my invention. Certain of the objects, or certain portions or combinations of the objects of myinvention may be attained with the use of less than all its advantageous features, or with modiiications within its purview. It is petitioned therefore, that my invention be limited only by the claims constituting its iinal determination.

Referring to the drawings: Y

Fig` 1 is a magnified perspective view of the ignition device of my invention with a segment broken away to disclose the radial section thereof.V Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the upper portion of the ignition device; the section being taken through the ignition tip of the match. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sketch of the ignition device of my invention incorporated in an oil burner and adapted to automatically ignite the oil burner. The view is a vertical section through the burner disclosing the ignition device in side elevation. Fig. 4 isan elevation of the threadlilre member of the ignition device. F ig. 5 is a radial section, similar to Fig. 1, of a modified form of the placement of the threadlike' member of the ignition device. Fig. G is a front elevation of a modified ignition device in which the threadlike member constitutesV the matchV instead of the igniter therefor. l

The match of my invention is formed of an annular cylindrical wick 1, preferably of pervious cardboard, adapted to rest with its lower end immersed in oil or other fluid combustible 2 (Fig. 3) which it is desired to ignite; the cardboard thus becoming saturated with combustible.

As alternative to this arrangement, I may impregnate the cardboard with paraiiine or other combustible, and employ it for ignition of' substances other than the fluid combustible 2, or the match body may be made of wood or other inherently combustible material. l prefer the annular cylindrical shape because of its greater capillary action, greater strengtlnand greater surface area; the large surface area being particularly advantageous as stimulating combustionand because it provides for a greater surface of ignition tip on the match. Other advantages of this shape will suggest themselves, but I desire not to be limited thereto, as certain valuable features of my invention are not dependent upon employment of this particular shape of member 1. Y

The upper part of member 1 is tipped with a coating 3 (Figs. 1 and 2), of readily ignitable material which may be set ofi' by friction, or chemical action or both. For instance where the match is to be supported adjacent to a burner to be lit. a metal clip J4 is'provided and secured to the lower part V'Y complementary to that`of the tip 3, and is wound part way around the tipped portion ol the cylinder 1.

The igniter is brought into intimate contact with the match by a resilient metal clip 8 straddiing the top ot' the wall of the member 1 and urging the thread 6 against the tip 3. then the thread is pulled the coating 7 is scratched across the tip 3, causing it to ignite.

The thread is held against the match, and, together with the match, is protected from moisture, by a suliiciently heavy paralline coating 9 over the assembled match and igniter. 1t will frequently be advantageous to apply the paraiiine coating with the coated portion 7 of the thread in intimate contact with the ignitable tip 3, but as illustrated in Fig. 2, it is safer to allow a thin wax coating to separate the ignition-producing material 7 from the tip 3. This may be accomplished 'by thinly coating about one quarter ot the circumference ol' the match tip with parattine 9', then laying the thread with its ignitina portion 7 over this paratline, and with the irictioil-producing clip S holding an uncoated portion of the thread against a non-paratlined portion of the tip surface. After this, the entire assembly may be dipped to provide its tina-l paratline coat 9.

The ignition device of my invention is especially susceptible to automatic actuation. It is merely necessary to connect the flexible string 6 to a trigger placed in almost any desired position; without thought to relative placement of a separate match and striker therefor. An illustrative trigger arrangement is diagramn'ied in F 3, wherein a spring 1() is connected at one end to the string (i and at the other end to any suitable support 1l. The spring is held extended by a knife edge 12 inserted between its coils and attached integrally to the movable edge of' a bi-metal thermostat 13, and is adapted to be withdrawn below the surface ot a second support 14 when the thermostat is cooled down below a predetermined temperature, this tvpe ot control being particularly cesigned 'for usein lighting orchard heaters.

The clip 8 is not an essential element. The match will usually ignite without it, especially it the thread 6 is wrapped around the tip 3. The clip, however, insures uniiailing `action oit the ignition device. Although it is preferable to wind the thread circumterentially around a segment of' the tip, it may be placed longitudinally against the tip in other positions. One such other position is shown in Fig. 5, wherein the match is formed on a flat-sectioned wooden stick l', is provided with a tip 3', a frictionproducing clip 8 and parafliine coating 9; the igniter thread (i being positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis et the match 1. rThe essential prescription of this feature ot my invention is that the coated part ot the threadlike member be placed longitudinally against the tip surface. The thread 6 may then be moved longitudinally et itself in striking the match. The thread 6, being 'Ilexible, may be subjected to pure tensile pull in striking the match. There is no scraping scratching motion required, and the thread may thus be made as limp as desired. It need have structural strength only in tension.

lVhen the thread is pulled for striking the match, the paraliine coat 9 is arranged to crack, and more or less flake ott, at the wick portion initially engaged by the coated string end whereby the wick is exposed for burning at its ignition point. The paraltine, being combustible and fusible, is burned or melted away from the remaining coated wick portion until the entire wick is ignited. It is noted that the temperatures prevailing at the device when the latter is applied in association with an orchard heater used for protection against frost, would be such that a coating of ordinary commercial paraine would be in a brittle state tor traeturing as described. Having in mind the fact that the binding and moistureproofing coating 9 must be of material which is combustible and fracturable at the temperature at which the igniter is used, it is to be understood that other materials having said qualities might be used in lieu ot paraliine tor el'l'ccting the desired result.

The tip 3 and coating may be of any dcsired coinplementary ignition materials. For the tip 3 I prefer the compound commonly used in the tips of so-callcd safety matches, consisting ol chlorate and bichromate oli potash, red lead, and antimony sulfide; and for the coating 7 l would then use a combined friction and chemical ignitant comprising a mixture ot amorphous phosphorous and antimony sullide.

Thilo it is advantageous in th-e described embodiment of my invention, to place the major combustible in the tip 3, and the ignitant in the coating` 7, this relation may be inverted so that the thread G becomes the match, Vand the tip 3 becomes the striker. Such a modification is illustrated in Fig. (S wherein a cylindrical bar 15 ot' samlstone, cast iron, or other rough material, terms the striker; the match 16 being a flexible thread having a frictioi'l-ignitable coating 17 near one end. The coated end ol the match is hung over the striker l5 and is preferably wound once around the striker, so that the coating 17 will be scratched across the striker when the free end of the match is pulled. A plurality ot such matches might be carried in spaced relation on a single striker.

Attention is especially directed to the ease with which the ignition devices ot my invention may be operated. In each case the device is operated by simply indiscriminately pulling a string; it being unnecessary to seek a suitable scratching surface, or to adjust the pressure exerted thereon. The match never breaks nor fails to light. These features dispose the ignitionV devices of my invention particularly to uses such as that described in my` copendingy application Serial No. 142,269, filed October 18, 1926, Where dependability and ease of operation are prime considerations.

I claim:

1. I gniting means for av match, comprising an igniter member removably secured to and against the ignition head of the match and arranged to effect the ignition Aof said head by and upon its removal, and fracturable means operative to releasably and directly secure said match and member together whereby one supports the other prior to the removal of said member.

2. Igniting means for a match, comprising a member having Van igniting head removably carried on theV ignition head Vof the match, and fracturable means jointly enshrouding said heads for securing them together in sealed-in relation. j

3. Igniting means for a match having an ignition head, comprising a member having an igniting head, and a shroud of combustible material securing said heads together and fracturable to permita relative contacting movement of said heads for effecting the ignition of said match head and to expose the match head for burning.

4. Igniting means for a match having an ignition head, comprising a member having an igniting head, and a moisture-proof shroud securing said heads together and fracturable to permit a relative separation of said heads, and means cooperative between the match and member for` gui-ding them to effect a frictional engagement of the heads during said separation thereof for igniting the match-head. Y

5. Igniting means for a friction match having an ignition head, comprising an igniter member formed of. a flexible thread provided With an igniting head unitarily secured to and against the match head and arranged When the match and member are pulled apart to be longitudinally drawn against the surface of said ignition head for Y igniting the same.

6. In combination with a match, an igniter therefor, and a fracturable bonding material directly securing the respective heads of said match and igniter and cooperative in unitary association and for frictional enmoval of the member is arran ed to effect a frictional engagement of said heads for 

